Classrooms Under Construction: Where the Learning Environment Meets the Construction Environment
May 3rd, 2023
CSG has been trusted to serve as owner’s representative for some of Connecticut’s most high profile school construction and renovation projects. We pride ourselves on this type of work knowing our efforts are investments in future generations and communities.
“You’re doing it for the kids,” says Project Manager Eileen Eagle, citing her work on K-12 school projects as most gratifying. Eileen plays an integral role overseeing construction at Anna Reynolds Elementary School in Newington, Connecticut, a phased renovate-as-new project at an existing 65,000 SF facility which involves new mechanical systems and energy efficiency upgrades, ADA accessibility improvements, and a new roof.
“You see these kids every day when you’re onsite and they always ask a lot of questions. They have a lot of enthusiasm. They ask ‘what do you do?’ and ‘why are you doing it?’ and it’s cool to introduce them to construction when they are that age.”
Safety is top of mind at any construction site. But working in school environments carries a different set of responsibilities. Whether it’s a brand new school being built next to an existing school or an occupied phased renovation project, the safety of students and staff comes first.
Project Manager Samantha D’Agostino (left) received special recognition for her tireless efforts successfully navigating the ins and outs of the complicated, multi-year phased renovate-as-new project that just wrapped up at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Enfield, Connecticut; a project that involved the intricate movement of students, teachers and staff as the original facility was renovated wing by wing.
With so many individuals coming in and out of a job site on a daily basis, Samantha says clear lines of delineation must be drawn between students, teachers, staff, and construction personnel. Mainly – where do the students learn while the workers work?
“The first thing we look at is the amount of free space – we call it ‘swing space’ – that’s available to us,” says Samantha. “On a phased renovation project parts of the building have to be shut down in order to safely complete the work. Once you’ve determined how much swing space you have you can figure out how many phases of construction you’ll need.”
A small amount of available swing space usually equates to more phases of construction. It means more students, teachers, and temporary classrooms need to be carefully moved around like pieces on a chess board in order to complete the work at the school. An abundance of swing space means more people can move at the same time, and more work can be completed in large portions of the facility thereby creating less overall phases of construction, and minimizing disruption.
Once the available swing space has been determined, CSG’s project managers collaborate with Construction Managers to work together to make sure they have appropriate measures in place, like temporary walls for classrooms and signage that dictates movement throughout the school. Once construction starts, our team makes sure that access doors are locked, construction fences are secure, and that school administration is aware of spaces where students and teachers can - and can’t - be.
Swing Space at JFK Middle School
“Another thing to consider is traffic patterns,” says Samantha, noting that since the pandemic more students are dropped off and picked up from school instead of taking the bus. “We have to make sure students, teachers, and staff have a safe path through the parking lot, and that any changes in traffic flow through the school are clearly communicated to the school so that info can get to the parents.”
In the end, it’s all about getting people to fall into a rhythm and collaboration. As OPM, we set out to develop a plan that includes input from everyone - from the architect and construction manager to teachers and facilities staff - to schedule phasing and develop logistical plans that provide a safe, efficient, and familiar environment for the students walking the halls while construction is in progress.
Posted in the categories Announcements, Projects.
